Safety-signal for balanced hoists.



T. G. FEAR.

SAFETY SIGNAL FOR BALANCED HOISTS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 3, I915.

1,1 92,609. Patented July 25, 1916.

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SAFETY-SIGNAL FOB BALANCED IIOIS'IS.

Application filed November 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Thomas G. FEAR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefiierson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety- Signals for Balanced Hoists, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to balanced hoists and has particular reference to a system of signal lights whereby the operator of the hoists will not start his machinery until the proper lights are lighted, as signals from the bottom and top of the slope.

My invention. will be more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which" Figure 1 is a wiring diagram of my invention showing the red lights in circuit, and Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing the white lights in circuit.

In the operation of balanced hoists from mines to the tipples, the hoist house is sometimes placed so that the operator cannot see if all is clear at each end of the ineline.-

Oftentimes someone at the foot or head of the incline signals the engineer to hoist when the car at the other end is not ready and everyone may not be clear thereof and accidents result.

My invention has for its object the provision of a system of signal lights so connected that the engineer will not receive his signal to hoist until switches at the top and bottom 01? the incline have been closed.

Referring to the drawings, A is a switch at the bottom of the incline, B is a switch on the tipple, and. C is a switch in the hoist house, all the switches having four contacts, as indicated, 10 and 10 representing the levers of the several switches. Connected to switch C, are redlights 12 and 13, and white lights 1 1 and 15, and to switch A, white lights 16 and 17, the red lights 12 and 13 being connected in parallel with switches A and B, so that the red lights will burn it either switch A or switch B is thrown, but not when they are both thrown in the same direction as switch C. The upper contacts of s vitch B are in series with those of A and C, so that all three switches must be thrown in the same direction before the white lights 11 or 15 will light. The positive connection to the red light 12 is from the contact 18 of switch C through the light and to the con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No, 59,450.

tact 19 of switch A. The positive lead to light 13 is from contact 20 of switch 0, through the light and to contact 21 oi switch A. Points 22, 23, 2e and 25 of switch A are connected to the negative main wire. There is also a negative connection from points 36 and 27 of switch B. From point 28 of switch C aconnection extends through white light 15 to point 29 of switch B, and from point 30 of C through light let to point 31 of B. Point 32 of B is connected through light 1'7 to point 33 of A, and 3d of B to 35 of A, through light 16.

F or the sake of clearness, suppose the hoist is arranged so that the cars may be refer-recite as East and WVest and that a balanced system is contelnplated with the cars connected by a cable, so that one descends the other ascends the slope. The positions of the levers 10, 10 and 10 of switches A, B and C are those that follow a hoist on the west side, the engineer having just moved the lever 1O into the east position, the lovers 10 and 10 being kept in the west position, as shown, until all is ready at both ends of the slope for an east hoist. With the levers, as shown, the circuit is from the positive lead through points 18 and 18 of switch G, through red light 12 and to the negative wire through points 36 and 37 of switch B, or 19 and 22 of A, thus lighting the red light 12, indicating to the engineer that the next hoist is not ready at either switch A or switch 13, or both. IV hen all is ready at the bottom and top of the incline, handles of switches A and B are moved to the east position, thus breaking the circuit through red light 12. Throwing the levers 10 and 10 into the east position closes the circuits through the white lights 1 and 16 (see Fig. 2), thereby indicating to the engineer that all is ready. The circuit being from the main positive lead through points 30 and 30 of C, light 14: in series, points 31 and 8 1 of B, light 16 in series, points 35 and 2 1 ofA to the negative lead, thus lighting white lights 14: and 16.

I claim:

1. In a. signal system for hoists, switches positioned at each end of the hoist and in the hoist house, signal lights in the hoist house and circuits controlled by said switches, whereby a danger signal is lighted when any of said three switches is disposed in a different relation to the others thereof and a safety signal is displayed when all switches are in the same relation, substantially as described.

2. In a signal system for balanced hoists, the combination of a plurality of manually operable switches located respectively at the bottom of the hoist, at the top thereof and in the hoist house, a danger signal and a safety signal in said hoist house, and circuits controlled by said switches and connected to said signals, the connections being such that the danger signal is in view when any of said three switches is disposed in a different relation to the others thereof, and said safety signal is in view when all of said switches are disposed in the same relation, substantially as described.

3. In a signal system for balanced hoists, the combination of electrical circuits connecting the bottom of the hoist, the top thereof and the hoist house, switches located at said points, said switches being manually operable and serving to connect two circuits in one position of each switch, a danger light and a safety light located in the hoist house, the arrangement of the circuit and switches being such that the danger light is active when any of the switches is disposed in a different relation from the others thereof, and the safety light is active when all the switches are in the same relation and the workmen at the top and bottom of the hoist are clear, substantially as described.

a. In a signal system for hoists, the combination of a plurality of electrical circuits, switches located respectively at the bottom and top of the hoist and in the hoist house, each of 'aid switches engaging four contacts in either of two positions of the switch, danger and safety lights located adj accnt to the hoist house, the arrangement being such that the disposition of any switch in a relation different from that of the switch in the hoist house, the danger light is active, substantially as described.

5. In an electric signal system, the combination of sets of signal lights and switches, the switches provided with pairs of contact points, levers adapted to be actuated to engage two pairs of contacts at one time, the lights being connected in series with similarly placed contact points on the several switches, one set of lights adapted to light when the levers are thrown all in the same direction, and the other set to light when one of the levers is thrown in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

Signed at Birmingham, Alabama, this 28th day of October, 1915.

THOMAS G. FEAR.

Witnesses MARY V. CRAVEN, PEARL DILLON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

